A Soccer Field Brings Hope to a Kenyan Slum

We talk a lot here at PPS about the power of place in improving people’s lives. Here’s a story that illuminates that power beautifully.

The children of Kibera make soccer balls from waste. Photo: Digital Democracy via Flickr.

The other night, at an event convening funders and partners in support of our joint initiative with UN-HABITAT, Michael Connery of UNFCU read aloud a letter from a young man in Kenya, Felix Oduor Otieno. Felix Oduor works with the Kilimanjaro Initiative (KI), which aims to provide “young women and men with opportunities that will enable them to take on a constructive role in their communities, thereby alleviating the need for them to engage in ungainly and detrimental activities that prove disadvantageous both to them and to the community at large and further recognizing their local knowledge and will-power.”

One of KI’s projects has been the rehabilitation of a soccer field in Kibera, a Nairobi slum that is home to nearly a million people. What difference can a soccer field make to such a place? Let Felix Oduor tell you:

Last weekend, as I was sitting outside our house close to the new road that heads to Silanga village, in Kibera slum — Nairobi, Kenya — a big lorry mounted with huge speakers and amplifiers passed-by, followed by numerous smaller vehicles. I quickly learnt that a famous tele-Evangelist was in one of the smaller vehicles. They were headed to Undugu field. I was tempted to tag along but changed my mind. After all, these days every significant event in Kibera is held at Undugu field.

Felix Oduor Otieno.

I flashed back to the days when we used to play on the field. We were little boys playing with our balls made of waste plastic bags. The field was rocky, uneven and unsafe – most of the time it was deserted. I remember one time we invited a team from a neighboring estate for a football match only for them to decline. They insisted that we go play on their estate field, outside Kibera, because according to them the Undugu field was not a playing field — they called it a “rock garden.”

The Undugu field is one of only two community fields in the whole of Kibera. Sometimes, when I take an evening stroll around the field and see young boys and girls go through their practice sessions, I have no doubt that sporting heroes are in the making. I also know and appreciate that those who participate and volunteer at the KI golf outings, to help raise funds for Kilimanjaro Initiative, are our first champions. Despite being busy, with many commitments, you see it as important to be part of this worthy cause. Please know that you maybe thousands of miles away but you are touching many young lives. You are giving them a safe space to explore and nurture their talents. On behalf of those young people and on behalf of all Kiberans, thank you so much for your efforts — you are our true heroes.

The funds you help raise today will go along way in improving the field and advancing Kilimanjaro Initiative’s objectives. For the upgrading of the field, the funds will be used to further develop the playing surface, improve storm water drainage, create a spectator seating area and help us do some landscaping. The field will become even more of a safe focal point and community space, not only enhancing sporting talents among youth but also fostering community interaction, promoting safety and security and peaceful co-existence in Kibera.

A Soccer Field Brings Hope to a Kenyan Slum was last modified: March 6th, 2012 by Sarah Goodyear

Danniel Cruz

you people are doing a great job and my the means of Soccer Field bringing peace in the slum of kenya is the great thing, by doing more goodfull things will surely improve the situation in kenya.Samsung RF266AEWP

Danniel Cruz

you people are doing a great job and my the means of Soccer Field bringing peace in the slum of kenya is the great thing, by doing more goodfull things will surely improve the situation in kenya.Samsung RF266AEWP

This is quite encouraging since am also involved in a similar initiative in Korogocho slum though we are using Roller skating sports as a means of creating the safer space in our neighborhood and engaging young people in positive social transformation of our communities, Keep it up Felix and KI you should visit Korogocho slum and see what we have been able to do in our small little ways. I must also comment pps for the information we receive from you guys in how we can integrate our initiative to champion for the safer spaces methodology, it is the beginning of starting to engage our politicians too.

Anonymous

Daniel, that sounds like such an interesting effort. We would love to hear more about it, please keep us posted and let us know if we can be of any greater assistance.